Vision 2022 We Can't Stay Here

Did you hear this in the news October 5th, 2021 at Kelloggs in Battlecreek, MI (rice krispies and frosted flakes). 1400 workers were on strike for 11 weeks. This brings whole new meaning to Cereal Killer. haha

wow

We have worked our way through a series of Hope for Deep Wounds. I really wanted to put it on the back shelf and I new that I wanted to share some vision for us as a church for the future.

As the Lord only does, He brought these two together in the reading of a book called Leadership Pain, The Classroom for Growth

The book says this. Peter Druker a leadership gue rue says the three toughest jobs in his study of Leadership in no particular order are, President of the United States, President of a college or university, and a Pastor.

He goes on to say that 80% of pastors will quit before their 5th year in the ministry.

He says that for every 20 pastors who start their career in the ministry only 1 will retire from it.

I share these stats simply to say that my wife and I have dealt with our fair share of deep wounds over the years. We have faced betrayal, sacrifice, brokenness, struggle financially, loneliness, and difficulties. We have seen highs and lows. We have experienced victories and defeats. Someone once asked Amy why we have not quit and her response was, “We have never wanted to quit on the same day”.

On this note, let me clarify a few things...

I do believe people who have been through something close to your deep wound can help you, but I strongly disagree that only those people can help you. (example: you have to be an alcoholic to minister to one or I only listen to recovered drug addicts because they know my struggle)

I think it is extremely prideful to believe that only those who have been through what you are going through can help you. In many cases, it is better to find someone who has not had your struggle and learn from them because your goal is to not repeat your struggle.

The same is true for you as a believer. Never limit yourself to only ministering to people who have been through what you have been through. If you have never struggled with alcohol or drug addiction, then find someone who has and be friend them. Learn from them and their struggles and you might be able to help them as they help you.

Pain with Purpose

I recall two particular moments of pain in my wrestling career. It was December 31, 1999. I had the worst pain of my life. I was a junior and what happens in the winter? Wrestling. I had some horrible pain. I was sniffing the vaporizer and it was not getting better.

I went to the hospital on December 31st, 1999. What was December 31st, 1999? Y2K.

Y2K had to do with computers only knowing the the last two years in the four digit year. so 98 or 99 and when the computer hit 00 they feared the computers would shut down because the computer would not know if it was 1900 or 2000.

I had appendix surgery that day. So that night all the executives of the hospital were walking through making sure it would all work out. I fell asleep about 9:00.

Exactly two weeks later I was back on the wrestling mat. When I weighed in, they ref asked to see my surgery scar. He said can you wrestle like that? That day I had my staples removed and was cleared to wrestle. The ref said will your insides come out of that. I gave him my doctors note and I wrestled.

It was a rough match. I endured the pain for the sake winning a state Championship. I qualified for state that year but did not win state.

My pain for the night had purpose. It led me to the greater goal.

My other memory was a tournament. I did not make the bus because I was too sick to ride with the team and they were going up the night before. I had a flu bug and I did not have any trouble making weight.

I lost a lot of weight. My parents drove me to the tournament the next day. I remember wrestling so weak but I ended up taking 2nd place that day. I was miserable and I had to think about every move that I would make. My brain had to make up for my physical weakness. It was one of my best tournaments that year.

My pain had purpose. I was wanting to win a state championship. I endured the pain because I had a vision that was bigger than my pain.

At the timberline where the storms strike with the most fury, the sturdiest trees are found.

Hudson Taylor

Shape the pain (We have a choice)

A part of our family history as Believers, goes back to these Israelites. Over 400 years the Israelites had been slaves in Egypt. The Lord calls Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery.

Exodus 3:5–10 HCSB

5 “Do not come closer,” He said. “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then He continued, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. 7 Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of My people in Egypt, and have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I know about their sufferings. 8 I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey —the territory of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 9 The Israelites’ cry for help has come to Me, and I have also seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 Therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead My people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”

See the promise of God. I have observed the misery of my people in Egypt, and have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I know about their sufferings

I have come to rescue them

Bring them to a good and spacious land

a land flowing with milk and honey.

The things about me enduring the pain in wrestling was that I did not know if I would win a state championship or not. I endured the pain in hopes of winning. I didn’t win. I took 3rd.

As believers we have something I did not have as a wrestler: certainty about the future.

The overall theme of scripture is creation, fall, redemption and restoration. God’s promise is to bring everything into perfect alignment; no tears, no regrets, no sin, no shame only love, joy, and purpose in the new heaven and new earth.

The promise to the Israelites is much like the promise for us today.

God made the promise so everything got easier and better right?

Moses and Aaron approach Pharaoh in obedience to the Lord.

Leadership Pain

To persevere, we need a vision for the future that‘s bigger than our pain

Exodus 5:17–23 HCSB

17 But he said, “You are slackers. Slackers! That is why you are saying, ‘Let us go sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18 Now get to work. No straw will be given to you, but you must produce the same quantity of bricks.” 19 The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, “You cannot reduce your daily quota of bricks.” 20 When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them. 21 “May the Lord take note of you and judge,” they said to them, “because you have made us reek in front of Pharaoh and his officials—putting a sword in their hand to kill us!” 22 So Moses went back to the Lord and asked, “Lord, why have You caused trouble for this people? And why did You ever send me? 23 Ever since I went in to Pharaoh to speak in Your name he has caused trouble for this people, and You haven’t delivered Your people at all.”

The process may not be easy, God may be pruning us, sifting us or shaping us. It is essential that in the depths of our hearts that enduring our pain will someday be worth it.

One of the first steps in creating a vision that is bigger than our pain is

Recognize we can’t stay where we are

The Israelites have been in slavery for over 400 years and God wants to deliver them from their pain.

God’s heart for his people is still the same. God not only wants to deliver them from their pain, but he also wants to deliver you from your pain.

John 10:10 HCSB

10 A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

James 1:16–17 HCSB

16 Don’t be deceived, my dearly loved brothers. 17 Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning.

Matthew 11:29 HCSB

29 All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.

For me personally and as an organization, Amy and I came to grips with that we could not stay where we were.

I was overwhelmed, tired, and stressed out. I was not productive. I was not enjoying my job and this was overflowing in to every other area of my life. Many times I was pushing through.

I always believe John 10:10 that Christ came to give us life and have it in abundance and James 1 that every perfect gift is from above.

The way to Heaven is ascending; we must be content to travel uphill, though it be hard and tiresome, and contrary to the natural bias of our flesh

Jonathan Edwards

So I started to work through some of this with Amy and some of my friends. We started to talk it out. We immediately realized that what was happening was not healthy and that there is a better way. I came to grips with the fact that I could not stay where I was.

(Structure chart old way)

This structure was wearing me out and I was slowing down everyone in the chart. It was taking me too long to make decisions and I was interjecting my comment on everything. I was micromanaging everything and it was not working for me and it was not working for the church.

When we are in pain Samuel Chand says the natural default setting of the heart is to run, blame, smother the hurt in busyness, or act like nothing’s wrong.

I had to admit that I was the problem. I was not part of the problem, I came to grips with I was the problem.

In the midst of the deep wounds or pain, you have to recognize that you can’t stay there. God does not waste one ounce of pain. He wants to take your pain and use it for His Glory

Job 13:15 ESV

15 Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.

Go forth today, by the help of God’s Spirit, vowing and declaring that in life-come poverty, come wealth, in death-come pain or come what may, you are and ever must be the Lord’s. for this written on your heart, “We love Him because He first loved us.”

Charles Spurgeon

God you love me! God you want more for me as your son or daughter. God I love you because you first loved me.

Notice God’s love for the Israelites as they are freeing slavery

Exodus 13:17–18 ESV

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” 18 But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.

GOD DID NOT lead them by the land of the Philistines. For God said, The people will change their minds and go back to slavery if they see war.

God knows what is best for your life. Why does it take so long for me to get through all this? God do you have a more direct route out of my problems?

The answer to this may be yes but if you take that route then be prepared to encounter war and get discouraged.

The Lord says trust me. He knows what is best for us and He knows what is best for His Glory. It may be the longer route to healing you from your deep wounds but God’s ways are so much higher than our ways and His thoughts are so much higher than my thoughts.

Romans 8:28 HCSB

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

Think of Jesus

Do we face opposition? The civil and religious authorities opposed Jesus at every turn. Do we encounter evil in all its forms? Satan himself tempted Jesus. Do we feel betrayed and abandoned? The crowds that yelled “Hosanna!” soon cried, “Crucify him!” And almost all of his best friends ran for their lives at his greatest hour of need. Do we feel misunderstood? The Lord of glory stepped out of heaven to rescue sinful people, and they killed him. Do we feel vulnerable? He was stripped, beaten, and hung on a cross in public humiliation. Why did he do all this? Out of love for the very ones who had run away from him, who had driven spikes into his hands, and who jeered him as he hung on the cross. People like you and me.

When we feel like quitting, we can think about Jesus. In the greatest act of love ever known, when he was unjustly dying for those who despised him, he could have come down from the cross and killed them all - but he stayed